A window to the past: documenting the status of one of the last remaining ‘megapopulations’ of the threatened staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis in the Dominican Republic

Lirman, Diego; Bowden-Kerby, Austin; Schopmeyer, Stephanie; Huntington, Brittany; Thyberg, T.; Gough, M.W.; Gough, Tivoli; Gough, Robert J.; Gough, Y.

doi:10.1002/aqc.1146

Cited by 22 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Our results further validate their claim that Western Caribbean Acropora populations exhibit little sexual reproduction. Previous studies from other abundant Acropora sites predicted that large populations were critical sources of propagules that might contribute to genetic diversity and coral coverage at neighboring sites (Keck et al 2005;Zubillaga et al 2008;Lirman et al 2010;Vargas-Angel et al 2003). However, because Caribbean acroporids usually do not self-fertilize, production of sexual offspring is a function of the number of genotypes present and not just a function of colony density or size (Levitan and McGovern 2005;Fogarty et al 2012;Baums et al 2013;Williams et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age and intraspecific diversity of resilient Acropora communities in Belize

et al. 2017

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The corals Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis are important Caribbean reef-builders that have faced significant mortality in recent decades. While many studies have focused on the recent demise of these species, data from areas where Acropora spp. have continued to thrive are limited. Understanding the genetic diversity, recruitment, and temporal continuity of healthy populations of these threatened Acropora spp. and the hybrid they form (''Acropora prolifera'') may provide insights into the demographic processes governing them. We studied three reef sites with abundant A. cervicornis, A. palmata, and hybrid Acropora populations offshore of Ambergris Caye, Belize at Coral Gardens, Manatee Channel, and Rocky Point. Samples were collected from all three Acropora taxa. We used microsatellite markers to determine: (1) genotypic diversity; (2) dominant reproductive mode supporting local recruitment; (3) minimum and maximum genet age estimates for all three acroporids; and (4) the history of hybrid colonization at these sites. We found that Acropora populations were highly clonal with local recruitment primarily occurring through asexual fragmentation. We also estimated the ages of 10 Acropora genets using recent methodology based on somatic mutation rates from genetic data. Results indicate minimum ages of 62-409 yr for A. cervicornis, 187-561 yr for A. palmata, and 156-281 yr for the Acropora hybrids at these sites. Our data indicate that existing A. cervicornis, A. palmata, and Acropora hybrid genets persisted during the 1980s Caribbean-wide Acropora spp. collapse, suggesting that these sites have been a refuge for Caribbean Acropora corals. Additionally, our data suggest that formation of extant hybrid Acropora genets pre-dates the widespread collapse of the parent taxa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age and intraspecific diversity of resilient Acropora communities in Belize

et al. 2017

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“…The contemporary distribution of the branching stony coral Acropora cervicornis includes discrete, isolated colonies and very dense interlocking assemblages called thickets that may cover extensive substrate (Dustan & Halas, ; Goreau, ; Lirman et al, ; Morelock & Koenig, ). Acropora cervicornis thickets have traditionally been assumed to be monoclonal (Vargas‐Angel, Thomas, & Hoke, ) based on the high frequency of fragmentation (Tunnicliffe, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clonal diversity impacts coral cover in Acropora cervicornis thickets: Potential relationships between density, growth, and polymorphisms

Drury

Greer

Baums

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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As coral reefs decline, cryptic sources of resistance and resilience to stress may be increasingly important for the persistence of these communities. Among these sources, inter‐ and intraspecific diversity remain understudied on coral reefs but extensively impact a variety of traits in other ecosystems. We use a combination of field and sequencing data at two sites in Florida and two in the Dominican Republic to examine clonal diversity and genetic differentiation of high‐ and low‐density aggregations of the threatened coral Acropora cervicornis in the Caribbean. We find that high‐density aggregations called thickets are composed of up to 30 genotypes at a single site, but 47% of genotypes are also found as isolated, discrete colonies outside these aggregations. Genet–ramet ratios are comparable for thickets (0.636) and isolated colonies after rarefaction (0.569), suggesting the composition of each aggregation is not substantially different and highlighting interactions between colonies as a potential influence on structure. There are no differences in growth rate, but a significant positive correlation between genotypic diversity and coral cover, which may be due to the influence of interactions between colonies on survivorship or fragment retention during asexual reproduction. Many polymorphisms distinguish isolated colonies from thickets despite the shared genotypes found here, including putative nonsynonymous mutations that change amino acid sequence in 25 loci. These results highlight intraspecific diversity as a density‐dependent factor that may impact traits important for the structure and function of coral reefs.

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“…Large Acropora spp. populations have been reported in Florida (Vargas-Angel, Thomas & Hoke, 2003;Williams, Miller & Kramer, 2008;Walker, Larson, Moulding & Gilliam, 2012); Punta Rusia, Dominican Republic (Lirman et al, 2010); Roatan, Honduras (Keck, Houston, Purkis & Riegl, 2005); Venezuela (Zubillaga, Márquez, Cráquer & Bastidas, 2008); and St. John, US Virgin Islands (Grober-Dunsmore et al, 2006). Here we add to this list by reporting on the abundant A. palmata in Veracruz, Mexico.…”

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confidence: 99%

Posible recuperación de Acropora palmata (Scleractinia:Acroporidae) en el sistema arrecifal de Vera Cruz, Golfo de México: evaluación de comunidades bentónicas en 24 arrecifes

Larson

Gilliam

Padiema

et al. 2014

RBT

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Recent evidence shows that Acropora palmata within the Veracruz Reef System, located in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, may be recovering after the die off from the flooding of the Jamapa River and a dramatic cold water event in the 1970s. Since this decline, few surveys have documented the status of A. palmata. The 28 named reefs in the system are divided into 13 northern and 15 southern groups by the River. Between 2007 and 2013, we surveyed 24 reefs to assess the benthic communities. Seven of the 11 reefs surveyed in the northern group and all in the southern group had A. palmata. Colonies were typically found on the windward side of the reefs in shallow waters along the reef edges or crest. We also recorded colony diameter and condition along belt transects at two reefs in the north (Anegada de Adentro and Verde) and two in the south (Periferico and Sargazo), between 2011 and 2013. In addition, eight permanent transects were surveyed at Rizo (south). A total of 1 804 colonies were assessed; densities ranged from 0.02 to 0.28 colonies/m² (mean (±SD), colony diameter of 58 ± 73cm, and 89 ± 18% live tissue per colony). Total prevalence of predation by damselfish was 5%, by snails 2%, and <1% by fireworms, disease prevalence was <3%. Size frequency distributions indicated that all of the sites had a moderate to high spawning potential, 15-68% of the colonies at each site were mature, measuring over 1 600cm². The presence of these healthy and potentially reproductive colonies is important for species recovery, particularly because much of the greater Caribbean still shows little to no signs of recovery. Conservation and management efforts of these reefs are vital. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (Suppl. 3): 75-84. Epub 2014 September 01.

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A window to the past: documenting the status of one of the last remaining ‘megapopulations’ of the threatened staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis in the Dominican Republic

Cited by 22 publications

References 34 publications

Age and intraspecific diversity of resilient Acropora communities in Belize

Age and intraspecific diversity of resilient Acropora communities in Belize

Clonal diversity impacts coral cover in Acropora cervicornis thickets: Potential relationships between density, growth, and polymorphisms

Posible recuperación de Acropora palmata (Scleractinia:Acroporidae) en el sistema arrecifal de Vera Cruz, Golfo de México: evaluación de comunidades bentónicas en 24 arrecifes

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